Living Lent: Meditations for These Forty Days

These are excellent meditations for Lent. I felt called to action and reflection in real and meaningful ways.

In "Living Lent," Episcopalian priest Barbara Cawthorne Crafton draws texts from the Episcopal church hymnal, using them as the basis for a series of reflections around Lent. Although some of the reflections deal with somber topics, they are not depressing, rather they invite the reader to ponder, think about and work through serious issues. She also has a great sense of humor. This is a great Lenten resource: rather than being self-focused, it broadened my perspective and helped me put my own sins and difficulties into context. The only thing is, now I am sad, because I have read all of her books! I hope she writes more soon.

Barbara Cawthorne Crafton has written this series of meditations based on Lenten hymns from the Episcopal Church Hymnal with a delicate touch and even a sense of whimsy. I enjoyed this book for the past two Lenten seasons and intend to continue using it for years to come.

Living Lent is a wonderful guide through the "forty days." Ms. Crafton uses personal stories, stories of parishioners, and of the world in a manner that ties the modern world to Christ. Her lessons are often subtle, but very powerful. I have bought this as a gift as well.

Barbara Cawthorne Crafton takes the poetic words of hymns and reflects on them during each of the forty days of Lent. Each one of these verses begins the daily reading; however, her reflections on the words of the hymns are related to her everyday experiences to which each one of us can easily relate. You find yourself nodding in agreement as she verbalizes so many of the things we've been thinking for so long. It's the kind of book that provides you with a short reading you can handle in the morning before work and find yourself thinking about for the rest of the day.